STOP Grant Awarded to Union and Snyder Counties

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Transitions, the Comprehensive Crime Victim Services Center serving Union, Snyder and Northumberland Counties, is pleased to announce that the PA Coalition on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) has awarded STOP grants (Services, Training, Officers, Prosecutors Grants) to Snyder and Union Counties.  The STOP Violence Against Women Formula Grant Program, whose source is the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Violence Against Women (OVW), enhances the capacity of local communities to develop and strengthen effective law enforcement and prosecution strategies to combat violent crimes against women and to develop and strengthen victim services in cases involving violent crimes against women.  

Through this grant, over the next three years, a total of $750,000, largely for prosecution and law enforcement, will be provided to Snyder and Union Counties.  $125,000 each year will be funded for each county. The program provides 25 percent for law enforcement, 25 percent for prosecutors and 50 percent for victim services provided by Transitions.  Snyder County has been receiving STOP grant funds for over fifteen years.  Snyder County District Attorney Mike Piecuch says, “We use this funding for a part-time prosecutor, partial funding for a County Detective and for local law enforcement.  It also provides training for law enforcement, sexual assault forensic examinations and has supported the efforts of our county-wide STOP team that focuses on strategies to prevent violence against women and their children in the areas of sexual assault, domestic violence and stalking.”

Many members of the Campus Community Response Team (CCRT) that began with funding from Bucknell University’s OVW grant, will now join the Union County STOP Team adding Mifflinburg and New Berlin Police Departments.  Also on the team are Transitions, Bucknell University Public Safety, Buffalo Valley Regional Police, Evangelical Hospital Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) Program, the Union County District Attorney and the Bucknell University Health Services and Women’s Center.  Union County District Attorney Peter Johnson says, “We are delighted that additional funding will be available for prosecution and law enforcement to focus on sexual assault and domestic violence in Union county.”


Written by Susan K. Mathias, CEO

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